Forage variety selection really pays

Are you thinking about seeding more forage crops this year? Choosing the right ones could give you a nice payback.

“If we value alfalfa hay at a conservative $160 per ton in 2013, the crop has the potential of profiting over $200 per acre, which brings it in line with the grain crops for profit potentials,” says Jerry Lindquist with Michigan State University Extension. “However, that profitability can be enhanced even more when the right varieties are planted.”

Lindquist says there is no foolproof system for selecting alfalfa or other forage legume or grass varieties, but if you do your homework and consider trial data in your selection process, the financial returns can be substantial for perennial forage crops.